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` (NoModel.) E. R. BOOTH 8L J. R. WILLIAMS@ ROLL PAPER HOLDER ANDGUTTER.

No. 379,444. I Patented Mar. 13, ,1888.

IINITED STATES PATENT OEEicE.

EMMONS R. BOOTH, OF KIR'KWOOD, AND JOHN R. WILLIAMS, OF ST. LOUIS,

f MISSOURI.

ROLL-PAPER HOLDER ANDCUTTER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 379,444, dated March13. 1888- Apnlication filed December 2, 1887. Serial No. 256,818. (Nomodel.)

.To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, EMMONS R. BOOTH, Of Kirkwood, in the county of St.Louis and State of Missouri, and JOHN R. WILLIAMs, of the city of St.Louis, in the State of Missouri, have invented a certain new anduseful'Improvement in Roll-Paper Holders and Gutters, of which thefollowing is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being hadto the accomio panying drawings, forming part of this specification, andin which- Figure I is a side elevation with part of the base broken awayto show the action of the knife, tension guide-plates, and springs. Fig.

II is a top view of the rolls and cutter. Fig. III is a verticalsection, taken on line III III, Fig. II, showing a thumb-gate holeextending through both the k nifelplate and the first tensionguide-plate to reach the broad continuous zo paper sheet that rides onthe lower tensionplate and comes from the lower roll and slides saidsheet forward to obtain a fresh hold. Fig. IV is a vertical sectiontaken on line IV IV, Fig. II, showing one of the thumb-gates in theknife-plate for slipping forward one of the continuous narrow sheets ofpaper after a previous cut to obtain a fresh hold. Fig. V is a rear orunder view of the cutter-frame and tension guide-plates. Fig. VI is averti- 3o cal section of a modification with the paper rolls suspendedbeneath a counter and the cutter-frame projecting down from saidcounter. Fig. VII is a vertical section of a modification with thecutter-frame recessed into 3 5 the counter. Fig. VIII is a verticalsection of a inodication,showing a single tension guideplate in thecutter-frame. Fig. IX is a section of the bobbin-spool that carries theroll and the shaft on which it runs; and, Fig. Xis

4o a detail View of a modification with a roller in the place of thebead, around which the paper turns on its way to the cutter-knife.

This invention relates to devices for holding paper rolls and themanipulation of the paper in the process of cutting; and the inventionconsists in features of novelty hereinafter fully described, and pointedout in the claims.

Referring to the drawings, similar figures of referenceindicate likeparts in al1 the views.

5o 1 represents the paper rolls, of which, in our preferred form,thereare three different Widths. The rolls are wound around sleeve bobbins orspools 2, which are preferably made of some soft grained wood thatprovides a clinging tension to the axle 3, on which they are mounted, 55 which axles may be of Wood, metal, or other suitable material. Thebobbnlspool sleeves to the sectional roll are made in sections toconform relatively to the width of the section-roll that each carries.Thus it will be seen that, as diverse to the usual manner ofconstruction, we provide stationary axles, (made stationary by theirsquare ends fitting in square seats,) and consequently the bobbins turnon,instead of with, the axles. Each separate roll with its individualbobbin works independently of its adjoining section, so as to onlyunroll the individual section from which the paper is drawn.

VThe axles have squareends 4., that rest in the projecting bracket-seats5 on the pedestal 6,as shown in Fig. I, or the pendent bracket 7, asshown in Fig.VI. These pedestals and pendent brackets are preferably ofmalleable cast-iron, but may he of steel, brass, or other suitablematerial. The pedestals have foot-flanges 8, that are secured byscrew-bolts 9 to the counter, table, shaft, or platform 10, on which thepedestals stand.

When the pendent brackets (shown in Fig. VI) are used, they have rearattachment flanges, 1l, which are secured by screw-bolts l2 to the underside of the counter, ceiling, shelf, or other suitable position to whichthey are secured.

We have shown and described the paper rolls held and having theirbearings on projected seats in connection with pedestals or pendentbrackets; but they may be held in similar square-seated projections frombrackets secured to side walls or suspended from pendent looped rods,the shaft having its seat within the loop or by any other suitable meanswithout departing from the essential features of the invention. f

Vhen the paper rolls are supported on pedestals secured to a counter,Src., as in Fig. I, the bobbin-spool which carries the broad paper rollwith its shaft is preferably placed on the lower bracket-seat, and the.bobbin-spool roo that carries two rolls of narrower paper occupies theseat at top of said pedestal.

W'hen the rolls are held or supported on pendent brackets secured to theunder side of a counter, ceiling, Ste., the wide paper roll ispreferably held by the front bracket, and the sectional roll of narrowwidths by the rear brackets. In other words, however, the rolls aresupported on pedestals above or brackets to below. It is alwayspreferable to have the wide paper roll located nearest to theknifeframe, so that its paper will occupy the lower or rear tier ofinterspaces between the tension-plates, for reasons that willhereinafter appear.

We have shown the sectional paper roll with two sections of differentwidths and corresponding thumbgates in the surface-plate of theknife-frame through which to start the 2o paper; but we do not confineourselves to that number, for the sectional rolls and theircorresponding thumb-gates on the surface-plate may be increased innumber according to the requirements of the trade in connection withwhich it is used; also, the single roll may,

when preferred, be made sectional and the number of the rolls (shown astwo) may be increased, or the device may be worked with a single roll.

13 represents the metallic knife-frame surface-plate, the front or loweredge of which has a knife-edge,.1-;t, which may, if desired, be of steelwelded to the plate, or the whole plate of steel or iron, as preferred.

When the paper rolls have their hearings above the counter, &c.,asshownin Figs. II, III, and IV, and so that the paper descends therefrom onits way to the knife, the rear of said plate, except at the extreme endswhere it is 4o fastened to the counter, is bent to forni a bead,

15, that turns around a rod, 16, the ends of which are secured in theend iianges of the knife-frame. This bead forms a convenient turning`curve for the two sections of narrow paper from the upper roll. W'hen,on the other hand,the rolls are suspended beneath the counterat therearof the knife-frame, as shown in Figs. VI, VII, and VIII, so that thepaper from neither of the rolls would pass around 5o said bead, the beadis preferably dispensed with,and then the whole rear of said edge can beutilized in attaching the knifefrarne tothe counter. The ends of theknife-frame plate are bent to form flanges 17, which strengthen theframe and form means of attachment at its ends to the boxing 18, whichis recessed in the counter for the knife-frame.

The aforesaid end Iianges are perforated both forsecuring the rod16,that passes through 6o the bead of the suriiice-plate, and also toconstitute bearings for the rods-19 and 20, that relatively pass throughthe bead 21 of the upper tension guide-plate, 22, and through the bead-23 of the lower tension guide-plate, 24.

' 65 Dual-arm spiral springs 25 engage around each end of the rod 20,and one arm of each l project inwardly from the flanged ends of the knifeplate,and the reverse arms press the tension-plates 22 and 24 aboveto tightly grip the paper 27.

28 represents three thumb-gates through the surface-plate of theknife-frame. The two end ones are for sliding forward the ends of thepaper from the narrow section-rolls, and the central gate opens the wayto a second gate, 29, through the upper tension guideplate to operate inthe same way on the broad paper from the other roll.

30 represents tension-springs, which are shown secured to the under sideof the counter, and may, if desired, be secured in any other suitableposition. These springs are to prevent the continued unwinding of theroll under the impulse given to it by drawing on the 85 paper.

In Figs. I and II are shown rolls on which no tension-spring is used;but reliance in these cases is placed on the friction-tension betweenthe axle (in such cases preferably ofwood) and the soft woodenbobbin-sleeve. (See Fig. IX.)

In Fig. VIII is shown a modification for use when a single roll only isused, and consequently a single tension-plate alone required.

In Fig. X is a modification for use in certain relative positions of therolls and cutterframe, in which part of the bead 15 on the rear of thesurface-plate of the knife-frame is cut away and a sleeve-roller, 31, isloosely seated around the rod 16.

It will be seen that inour combined paperroll holder and cutter therolls and their means of support are (unlike such devices in general)detached from each other, so that, although in the drawings they are forconvenience located in near proximity to each other, yet they are not byany means confined to such close proX- imity, if, as is frequently thecase, it is found desirable to place them remote from each other.Forinstance, when nsedin extensive retail stores, where the spacebeneath the counter is taken up with drawers, Ste., and the lowershelving, being convenient to the clerks, is all fully occupied, theroll-frames may be stationed on upper shelves; or elongated pedestalsmay be used that elevate the rolls ont of the way, or the rolls may besuspended from the ceilings, as they are shown beneath the counter inFig. VI. Even when the rolls are located as shown in Figs. I, II, and VIit is found of great advantage to have the papercutter detached from theroll and to have separate tension-plates, as shown, apart from the roll,that definitely hold the paper to the knife while tearing, and alsoretain their hold of the end connected with the roll, so that it is onhand and presents itself under pressure beneath the thumb-gates readyfor a further projection.

The operation of the invention is as follows: lVhen the rolls areelevated on a pedestal or otherwise, as in Fig. I, the wide paper fromthe lower roll is passed down and under the IOC IIS

spring is held to its work by the pins 26, that l bead 21 on the rear ofthe tension-plate 22 and over the lower tension-plate, 20, to or pastthe edge of the knif'e 14. The two narrow widths of paper from thesection-roll above are then passed down and under the bead l5 at therear of t-he surface-plate of the knifefranie and over the tension-plate22, their forward edges, also, to or past the edge of the knife. (SeeFigs. I and Il.) Now it will-be seen that ifa clerk standing in front ofthe counter (see Fig. II) requires a portion of the narrowest paper onthe rolls he puts his thumb through the gate 2S in front of theroll-section on his left hand and slides the paper forward until he getsa good hold in front of the knife, when he draws it forward to thelength rev quired and severs it by drawing it quickly upward against theedge of the knife. lf he requires a medium width, he follows the samecourse wit-h the section on his right hand, and if a length is requiredof the wide paper from the lower roll he passes his thumb through themiddle gate and also the gate beneath it through the firsttensionplate,when his thumb comes in contact with the wide paper, (shownof a darker color in Fig. IIJ and it is passed forward by the sainemeans, as above described.

IVhen the rolls are located beneath the counter and the knife-frameeither secured in its pendent position (shown in Fig. VI) or coming upthrough the top of the counter, as shown in Fig. VII, the operation issubstantially the same as described above; but in this case, the paperrolls being beneath the counter, the Y paper 'from each roll turnsrelatively around the beads at the rear edges of the two tension-plates,so that in the latter case, when preferred, the bead l5 on the rear edgeof the surface-plate of the knife-frame may be dispensed with and theplate extended flush, so as to re-enforce its attachment to the counter.

IVe have shown and described tensionsprings on the rolls beneath thecounter, and the same springs may, if desired, be secured to thepedestals and pro vide tension to the periphery of the rolls; but wegenerally prefer to rely on the axle-tension in conjunction with thcspring tension-plates in the knife-frame.

It will be seen that we provide square or other angular-formed ends tothe axles and rest them in square or angular seats, so that the axlescannot turn. \Ve also preferably make these axles of woo'd to increasethe friction, (for they are inexpensive, and therefore cheaply reneweth)and we provide softwood bobbinsleeves, that also add to the friction, sothat, in conjunction with the aforesaid spring tension-plates in theknife-frames, (in any ordinary case.) there is sufficient tensionwithout the use of a tension-spring on the roll, which with some rollsis objectionable because of the high tension it exerts when the roll isfull, (sometimes sufficient to injure the paper,) and the low tension,and sometimes loss of all tension, when the roll is nearly empty.

Although in most establishments it is preferable to have our multipleand sectional width rolls, yet, as in some small establishments a singleroll may only be required, we show in Fig. VIII and have described asingle knifeframe with our spring tension-plate, 85e., attached thereto;also, although in most contingencies, we prefer our beaded tensionguideplates to a roller-guide, (which is in danger of sometimes rollingback instead of forward, and so carry back the catch-holdof the paper,)yet to meet all contingencies we also, in the modification shown in Fig.X, provide and have described a sleeveroller, 3l, that works on the rod16.

We claim as our inventionl. In aroll-paper holder and cutter, thecombination of the rolls and bobbin-spocls with stationary axles onwhich the spools run, the bracketfraxnes that support them, and thedisconnected knife-frarne, springtension guideplates, the pivot-rodsthat carry said plates, and knife, substantially as and for the purposeset forth.

2. In a roll-paper holder and cutter, the combination of the single andsectional rolls, the individual bobbin-spools for each roll, thestationary axles on which said bobbins run, and bracket-frame withangular seats that support said axles, the disconnected knife-frame,knife, and tension guide-plates, with the spiral springs that back themand the pivot-rods that carry said plates, substantially as and for thepurpose set forth.

3. In a roll-paper holder and cutter, t-he combination of the single andsectional paper rolls, the single and sectional bobbin-spools, thestationary shafts provided with angular ends and seats in theirsupporting bracketframes, said supporting bracket-frames, thedisconnected knife-frame and tension guide- IDO plates mounted therein,the springs that back up said tension-plates, the pivot-rods that carrysaid plates and springs, and the beads at rear of said plates and of thesurface-plate of the knife-frame, the said beads arranged to turn andguide the paper on its way to the knife, substantially as and for thepurpose set forth.

4. In a roll-paper holder and cutter, the combination'of the single andsectional rolls, the single and sectional bobbin-spools, the stationaryaxles with angular ends, the bracketsupports provided with angular seatsfor the shafts to prevent them from turning, the disconnectedknife-frame with the knife which is the sharpened front edge of thesurface-plate of said frame, its beaded rear edge to guide the paperfrom the rolls and flanged ends, the tension guide-plates secured bybeads at their rear edges, the pivot-rods around which said beadsengage, which rods have bearings in the end flanges of thesurface-plates of the knifeframe, the springs secured around said rodswith one arm, which is held by a pin that projects from the end angesaforesaid, and a second arm that en forces the pressure of the tensionguide-plates, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

IIO

5. In a roll-paper holder and cutter, the combination of the single andsectional rolls, hobbin-spools, and stationary axles with supportingbracketiframeshedisconnected knifeframe, spring-tension guideplates,pivot-rods that carry said plates and springs that enforce theirtension, and the thumb-gates through the surface-platefol' theknifeframc and tension-plate, through which the thumb of the operatorenters to slide and project the front edge ofthe paper, substantially asand for the purpose set forth.

G. In a rollpaper holder and cutter, the combination of the rolls,bobbiu, stationary axles, the supporting bracket-frames, thedisconnected knife-frame, the su rface-plate of the same, with itssharpened knife-edge and end flanges, the rod 16, secured in saidflanges, and the sleeve-roller 8l on said rod to turn and guide thepaper toward the knife, the beaded tension guide-plates and theirpivot-rods and tension-springs, and the roll tension-springs 30, andthumb-gates in the surface knife-plate and tension-plate arranged topass the thumb through to slide and project the front edge of 2 5 thepaper for a catch-hold, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

7. In a roll-paper holder and cutter, the combination of the sectionalroll,bobbins, stationary axles, the supporting bracketfralne, thedisconnected k nife-frame,the surface-plate of same, with its sharpenedknife-edge and end flanges, the beaded tension-plate and pivoted rod onwhich it runs, the springs that euforce its tension against the paper,and the thumb-gates through the surface-plate of the knife-frame throughwhich to pass the thumb to slide the paper for a catch-hold,substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

EMMONS R. BOOTH. JOHN R, VILLIAMS. In presence of- BENJN. A. KNIGHT,SAML. KNIGHT.

